ANDERSON, S.C. – Using a balanced attack, the Anderson University volleyball team opened a three-match homestand with its 10th consecutive win by sweeping Tusculum, 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-21) in South Atlantic Conference action, Friday night at the Abney Athletic Center.
Anderson (14-1, 5-0 SAC) stayed atop the conference standings with its fifth consecutive win over the Pioneers, while Tusculum (2-7, 0-3 SAC) suffered its seventh straight setback.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Sophomore outside hitter Kaitlyn Grube shared match-high honors with eight kills and added six digs, while classmate Regan Duty posted six kills behind a .429 hitting percentage. Senior outside hitter Jayln Knight tallied five kills and eight digs, with sophomore middle Hailee Wilhelm adding five kills and four block assists. Junior outside hitter Kathryn Hughes notched five kills, while junior setter Emily Conlin recorded 33 assists, nine digs and a pair of service aces. Freshman libero Meghan DeVaux notched a match-best 14 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The first frame was tied three times early, with the Trojans taking the lead for good on back-to-back aces from Megan Embry. Later, with AU holding a tenuous, 8-7, advantage, an attack error by the Pioneers, coupled with Conlin's serves sparked a 10-1 scoring outburst by the Trojans that saw AU break open the set and build a double-digit cushion, at 18-8.
Moments later, the Trojans claimed their largest lead of the set (21-9) on another Pioneer miscue. Tusculum countered with four straight points to trim AU's lead to single digits, but would get no closer than eight down the stretch.
Second Set
With Grube and DeVaux serving, the Trojans struck early and opened a quick 11-2 lead, while pushing out to a double-figure, 14-4, advantage on a kill by Grube.
Tusculum crept back within five on two occasions, both on kills by Aubrey Hawkins, but the Trojans pulled away late to claim the nine-point win.
Third Set
The Trojans again got off to a fast start, built a 9-2 lead and overcame nine attack errors to take the set.
After claiming their largest lead, at 12-4, the Trojans saw their lead dwindle to just one before rebuilding an 18-13 advantage on the strength of a 5-1 surge, with Conlin capping the outburst with a pair of aces.
ANDERSON STAT OF THE NIGHT
The Trojans reached double-figure block assists (10) for the eighth time this season.
NOTABLES
• With her 49 assists in the win at Newberry last Tuesday night, Emily Conlin notched her 3,042nd career assist and moved into third place all-time in the AU record books.
• The Trojans stretched their win streak to 10 matches and extended their home win streak to 19.
• The Trojans have notched nine sweeps this season.
UP NEXT
Anderson continues the homestand when the Trojans welcome Lincoln Memorial to the Abney Center, Saturday afternoon. First-serve the Lady Railsplitters is slated for 2 p.m.
